JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 



FROM 



India to Siam and Malacca in 1779. 



By Dr. J. G. KOENIG. 



Translated from his Manuscripts in the British 

 Museum. 



Continuation Vol. 2, from page 1. 



Maij 1. — I wrote some letters to Europe, which I delivered 

 into the care of Captain Schott, who was to take them to Malacca, 

 whence they were to be sent on by the first opportmiity. In 

 the afternoon T went to an island called Kopran, which was 

 at 1000 steps distance from the ship. My botanical purpose was 

 frustrated by continual rain, and so I looked out for other things 

 of interest. I turned my attention first to a prominent mountain - 

 peak. It consisted of a clayey very fine stone, which varied much 

 in colour ; most of it was grey, some was green, black or pink. 

 It did not form any big- blocks, but strong ferruginous veins 

 divided it into many irregular parts. This kind of stone is used 

 by the Siamese to write their books with, which books consist 

 of black cardboard. They cut the stone into small sticks, one 

 inch in length and half as thick as a quill. The other kinds of 

 stones were either black schist, rough and porous, or pieces of 

 old corals. The soil itself was light yellow mountain mould. 

 I found two kinds of Holothurians here, one was the kind that 

 has a white stomach and an ashy grey back; it was the rough, 

 stiff Holothuria which is called Bifshide Meer by the Portuguese. 

 Some Malays, who came to this island in their Praus and boats, 



